Post by chinmusic on Sept 26, 2022 16:39:50 GMT -8
Oregon State provided College Baseball’s Transfer Portal with two of the Top-20 Plums in the Portal last season. Jack Washburn and Troy Claunch proved to be valuable transfers to their respective teams.
Jack Washburn – Ole Miss – Right-Handed Pitcher
Picked for his effective fastball, slurvy breaking ball, and low spin CH, Washburn was predicted to add to a talented Ole Miss bullpen. In available 2022 season data, Washburn made use of a fastball that sat just over 90 MPH. He complemented the fastball with a slider averaging around 80 MPH and an 83 MPH changeup to create his three-pitch mix. Washburn was able to increase his Chase% and Whiff% on his fastball from 2021 to 2022. His pitching mix allowed him to have the third lowest BAA (.220) out of the transfer pitchers that we analyzed. He went 40.1 innings for the Rebels in 2022 with 9.4 K/9 and a 22.8 K%. His 5.49 FIP and 4.22 SIERA put him towards the bottom of the transfer pitchers, but he was an effective pitcher for Ole Miss with 5-2 W-L and 9 starts of 15 appearances in 2022.
Troy Claunch – Texas A&M – Catcher
Selected for his steady hitting statistics at Oregon State and his experience behind the dish, Claunch joined a talented Aggie roster for the 2022 season. Claunch’s offensive stats situated him lower in the rankings as compared to the other transfer hitters on this list, with his top stat being fifth ranked in BABIP at .351. As compared to the rest of the 2022 Aggie offense, Claunch was a humble everyday starter, but he filled a needed role behind the plate. Claunch was able to work the lower side of the zone for his pitchers, throw out 16 of 32 SBA, and end with a .988 FLD%.
Claunch was drafted by the White Sox, Washburn returns for what should be his final year. Claunch filled a huge need for the Aggies, they didn’t have a game-ready catcher. It is thought, Washburn and fellow Portal transfer John Gaddis from Texas A&M-Corpus Christie, gave Ole Miss the bullpen arms they desperately needed and enabled them to win the NCAA championship in June. Gaddis was 4-2, had 17 appearances including 7 starts.